Three people with hammers and pepper spray rob Kitchener jewelry store
Waterloo regional police are investigating an armed robbery at a jewelry store in Fairview Park Mall.
Police were called to the Kitchener shopping centre around 8:20 p.m. Monday.
Police said three males came into the store armed with hammers and pepper spray, smashed display cases, stole merchandise and took off in a silver SUV. The suspects’ ages haven’t been released.
Police didn't say what store was targeted or how much jewelry was taken.
On Tuesday, police said they didn’t believe the pepper spray or hammers were used during the robbery but display cases had been smashed in another way that was not disclosed.
No injuries were reported.
“Our robbery team continues to investigate a number of armed robberies, including at jewelry stores in malls throughout the region,” Const. Melissa Quarrie with Waterloo Regional Police Service said. “We do encourage anyone, if they’re present during a commercial robbery, to stay as calm as possible. Don’t take any actions that could endanger your safety or the safety of others. As soon as possible, and when it’s safe to do so, please contact police.”
The investigation into the robbery is ongoing.
OTHER ROBBERIES
This was the most recent jewelry store robbery in recent months.
On Jan. 3, four masked people robbed Paris Jewellers in the Stratford Mall. Two people have now been charged in connection to the investigation.
Two other robberies also happened at Fairview Park Mall.
An unnamed jewelry store was targeted on Nov. 25. Police said two of the suspects had axes and a third had a gun.
Waterloo regional police are looking to identify the people in these images in connection to a jewelry store robbery at Farview Park Mall. (Source: Waterloo Regional Police Service)
On Oct. 31, multiple people hopped the counter at Lola Jewellers in Fairview Park Mall and grabbed merchandise.
TROUBLING TREND
James Blight, director for retail and commercial security with Paladin Security, has also seen a rise in jewelry store robberies.
“There’s evidence of the same type of activity occurring across the country,” he said. “The incidents can be as quick as two to three minutes, so it’s a very challenging incident to prevent.”
Unlike some other retail products, jewelry has a high resale value and a long shelf life, which may be one reason it’s a popular target.
“As long as it’s not retraceable jewelry. If it’s a very well known, specific piece of jewelry it’s harder to move, but if it’s a generic diamond ring or a gold bracelet or a silver chain, [they] can usually sell that stuff either to a pawn shop or some other fence of some kind at a really high dollar value. They can even melt some of it down,” he explained. “I don’t know what the people in these cases are doing with the items, but jewelry has a typically high retained value after it’s stolen.”
PREVENTING THEFTS
Blight said prevention is one solution to the problem.
He suggests companies should train their staff on what suspicious behaviour might look like and encourage employees to report that to security or management.
Many retailers also choose to hire external security guards, who are often trained in spotting suspicious behaviour and interacting with shoppers who may appear suspicious. They’re also trained to take concise mental notes if a robbery does occur.
Another key to prevention is having the proper equipment.
“A lot of jewelry stores think that their display cases have been protected with smash film. 3M creates a film that you can put on a case that can increase the time it takes to break to glass from zero seconds, to 45 seconds, or one minute,” Blight said. “Every second you can add to the time it takes someone to commit their crime, the more opportunity there is for them to be captured and the less desirable it is for them to continue their crime.”
If a robbery does happen, Blight said the best action for employees or security guards to take is no action.
“If the person is armed, none of us are really equipped to go toe-to-toe with them. We kind of just need to stay calm, observe details and be prepared to report those details to police,” Blight explained.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau and Harris? Poilievre and Trump? Here's who Canadians think would work best with: survey
As Americans prepare to elect their next president on Tuesday, new data from the Angus Reid Institute suggests Canadians hold differing views as to which federal party leaders would be best suited to deal with either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
B.C. port employers launch lockout at terminals in labour dispute with workers
Employers at British Columbia ports say they are going ahead with locking out more than 700 foremen across the province after strike activities from union members began.
Months after VRBO booking, Taylor Swift fan told home 'not available' during Vancouver concert
A frustrated Taylor Swift fan is speaking out after being pushed from a short-term rental she booked for the upcoming Vancouver leg of the superstar’s Eras Tour.
Felonies, assassination attempts and a last-minute change on the ticket leads voters to Tuesday's U.S. election
A campaign that has careened through a felony trial, incumbent being pushed off the ticket and assassination attempts comes down to Election Day on Tuesday.
Measles cases in New Brunswick more than double in three days
A measles outbreak declared in New Brunswick’s Zone 3 last week, which includes Fredericton and the upper Saint John River Valley, has more than doubled since last week.
Prison sentences handed down for sexually abusive London, Ont. parents
In handing down the sentences for two London parents, Justice Thomas Heeney told the court, "The facts of this case were the most egregious that I have encountered during my 26 years on the bench."
She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about a year ago. Here's how her condition was reversed
A year ago, Lorraine O'Quinn was coping with stress, chronic illness and Type 2 diabetes. Then she discovered a health program that she says changed her life.
Surprise swing state? Iowa poll has Harris suddenly leading
Based on victories in the past two elections and polls leading up to Tuesday’s election, Donald Trump had seemed almost certain to win Iowa, but a new poll has Kamala Harris with a sudden three-point lead.
Russia suspected of sending incendiary devices on US- and Canada-bound planes, Wall Street Journal reports
Incendiary devices that ignited in Germany and the United Kingdom in July were part of a covert Russian operation that aimed to start fires aboard cargo and passenger flights heading to the U.S. and Canada, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Monday, citing Western security officials.